• About
  • Agenda
    • Agenda
    • Voter Dollars
  • Blogs
  • Donate
  • Join
  • Voting scorecards
  • State House
    • State House
    • NH Democracy Report
    • Call Your Legislator
    • NH House Special Committee on Redistricting
  • Events
  • News
  • Take Action
    • Take Action
    • Action of the Week
    • Open Democracy Regional Teams
    • Campaign Finance Corruption Chorus
    • 2021 NH House & NH Senate Committees on Redistricting "Public Listening Sessions"
    • Redistricting Petition
    • Day 1 is for Democracy
  • For the People Act Action Page
  • Maps

Pages tagged "New Hampshire"


Events & Calendar

Posted by Brian Beihl · February 19, 2022 8:19 AM
See all events

NH House & Senate Election Law Legislation Action Page

Posted on Take Action by Brian Beihl · January 14, 2022 4:44 PM · 1 reaction

For members of the public wishing to follow legislation on election and democracy issues, Open Democracy Action provides this tool to learn more, follow developments and take action.  

The NH House & Senate allow for Granite State voters to remotely register support or opposition to pending legislation.  While this is NOT a substitute to calling or writing your state rep or senator, it is fast and easy to do and may give the committee a general impression of support for a bill, and the totals become part of the permanent record.

This page will change on Fridays during the legislative season, January through June.   Scroll down to see what happened the previous week.  

If you have questions about this process, please contact Sara Lobdell, Program Coordinator, Open Democracy Action

Good news!  House Election Law has begun calling for the count of remote sign-ins at the end of every hearing.    Many of them have been 50-1, 80-1 or even higher margins.  Well done, people!   AND, the House has implemented a link where you can see WHO and HOW MANY people signed in on bills, and if they submitted written testimony, you can read it!   Wow, some innovation out of the General Court for a change! 

 

 

NH House Sign in Instructions   Click to enlarge the picture


NH Senate Sign-In Instructions

Click to enlarge the picture

 

Week of April 29 - May 6, 2022

Full House Session:

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 @ 10AM

and

Thursday, May 5, 2022 @ 9AM

in Representatives Hall

House session complete  Click for details   Comments

CALL

SB418

Ought to pass with amendment

relative to verification of voter affidavits.

Call your Rep and urge them to OPPOSE SB418 because it:

-violates voter privacy

-disenfranchises overseas military/overseas citizens

-jeopardizes First in the Nation status

-could disenfranchise same-day registrants who register for the first-time in NH, if they don't follow up with the Secretary of State with ID within 7 days.

If you have a relationship with these key Reps, please contact them and express your opposition.

CALL

SB200

Ought to pass with amendment #1702h

relative to the election of district commissioners in Haverhill. Congressional districts amended to this bill.

Call your Rep to OPPOSE the Congressional districts because they are:

-Not competitive

-Did not have a public hearing

These districts are almost identical in lack of competitiveness to the Congressional districts the Governor originally vowed to veto.

CALL

SB302

Ought to Pass with amendment

establishing the personal privacy protection act.

Prohibits public agencies and public bodies from releasing any list, record, register, registry, roll, roster or other compilation of data of any kind.

Call your Rep to OPPOSE SB302 because it:

DECREASES transparency in government, in a time when we need more transparency. Makes it more difficult to track Dark money.

 

Full Senate Session:

Thursday, May 5, 2022 @ 10AM

Senate Chamber

Senate session complete   Click for details    Comments

CALL

 
HB144
Ought to pass with amendment
relative to absentee ballot request forms 

Call your Senator to SUPPORT this bill, as it makes "illness or medical condition" a reason to request an absentee ballot. Adding this as a reason to request an absentee ballot allows access to the vote for folks who might not be able to vote in-person, but who do not qualify to vote under the other currently accepted reasons to request an absentee ballot.

Week of April 22 - April 29, 2022

House Special Committee on Redistricting, April 27, 2022, 11:00AM - 5:00PM, Legislative Office Building Room 201-203.

Executive Session on SB200 (Congressional Districts)

Click to EMAIL   Click for details   Comments

EMAIL

10:00 AM

SB200

OTP with amendment #1702h

relative to the election of district commissioners in Haverhill. (Congressional districts amended to this bill)

At the public hearing on Governor Sununu's Congressional districts (4/22) it was made clear the committee intends to amend the Governor's proposal and "make it better." Please email the committee and ask for Congressional districts that are:

-Competitive, where there are as equal as possible populations of voters of both major parties so that all voters have an equal shot at electing their candidate

-Competitive, so that candidates are accountable to and work in the best interests of all voters

-Assure communities are fairly represented

-Anything else you'd like to add from previous testimony on what makes a fair map

To call attention to your testimony, consider writing in bold purple to highlight that NH is a purple state, and we want a purple map.

 

House Finance Committee, Division I, Tuesday April 26, 2022, 1:00PM, Legislative Office Building, Room 212

House Finance Full Committee, Wednesday April 27, 2022, 3:00PM, Legislative Office Building, Room 210-211

Tuesday is the work meeting (not a public hearing) on SB418, Wednesday is the full committee vote. Please email BOTH Division I of the Finance Committee, and the full committee the following concerns related to the fiscal note of SB418.

  Click to EMAIL Committee Click for details   Comments

EMAIL Division I

EMAIL Full Committee

SB418

Passed

relative to verification of voter affidavits.

 

The goal is to have the fiscal committee determine that the price paid for SB418 in dollars is too costly to implement the bill. To that end, SB418 will be:

-Costly to municipalities in money and staff time implementing the more cumbersome same-day registration packet

-Likely more costly than the $685,000 estimate, because the state will need to overestimate the # of pre-paid mailers supplied to each polling place. Overestimation is necessary so polling places don't run out of provisional ballot ID verification packets, which would inhibit folks who need to take the packet from voting if they did run out.

-Cost overseas military voters and overseas citizens their vote (which could cost NH money if NH does not follow the federal requirement to mail overseas ballots 45 days before the election, as would not be possible under SB418).

 

Governor Sununu - call/email to urge the Governor to commit to vetoing the gerrymandered Senate and Executive Council maps that passed the NH House this week.

Click to CALL  Click to CALL/EMAIL Click for details    Comments

603-271-2121

[email protected]

SB240

 Info on map here

apportioning state senate districts

Proposed Senate districts for 2020-2030.

-Would guarantee a veto-proof partisan supermajority in the Senate

-Prioritized incumbent Senators, rather than communities of interest or competitive districts

Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Senator.

603-271-2121
[email protected]

SB241

 Info on map here

apportioning executive council districts  

Proposed Executive Council districts for 2020-2030.

-District 2 packed with Dem leaning towns, making Repub votes matter less.

-District 4 packed with Repub leaning towns, making Dem votes matter less.

Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Executive Councilors.

Week of April 15 - April 22, 2022

House Special Committee on Redistricting, 10AM-5PM, LOB, Room 201-203, Friday April 22, 2022   T = Written/In-person testimony needed.     
Click the Thumb to sign in   Click for details   Comments
Neutral or  10:00 AM

SB200

T

(testimony can be in pdf or text form directly on the sign-in page)

Oppose: 26

Neutral: 3

Support: 0

A Congressional Redistricting Map (the Governor's idea here) is being amended to this bill.

relative to the election of district commissioners in Haverhill.

Talking points

Testimony could focus on:

1.Competitiveness: this map is better than the map the Governor vowed to veto, but could still do more to make the districts competitive.

2. Deviation: the population deviation between the 2 districts is higher than generally accepted for a Congressional map. The deviation could be lowered by swapping Loudon and Epsom between districts.

There will be a visibility 9-10AM outside the LOB. Bring a sign and stand with us for fair maps! 

 

Full House Session 

Thursday, April 21st, 2022 starting 9:00AM

House Chamber

Click to Email Click to See Details   Comments

CALL

(especially these Reps)

SB418

Amendment here

 

PASSED

180-154

relative to verification of voter affidavits.

Main talking points:

-violates voter privacy

-disenfranchises overseas military/overseas citizens

-jeopardizes First in the Nation status

-if same-day registrants who register for the first-time in NH don't come to the polls with a photo ID, they have to take the provisional ballot. If they don't return ID information to the SOS within 7 days of election, their vote gets deducted. Has the potential to disenfranchises voters who don't have a photo ID and move to NH, and Granite Staters turning 18 who don't have an ID.

CALL

 

SB240

 Info on map here

PASSED

apportioning state senate districts.

Proposed Senate districts for 2020-2030.

-Would guarantee a veto-proof partisan supermajority in the Senate

-Prioritized incumbent Senators, rather than communities of interest or competitive districts

Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Senator.

CALL

 

SB241

 Info on map here

PASSED

apportioning executive council districts.

Proposed Executive Council districts for 2020-2030.

-District 2 packed with Dem leaning towns, making Repub votes matter less.

-District 4 packed with Repub leaning towns, making Dem votes matter less.

Overall, a gerrymandered and uncompetitive map that doesn't give voters a fair choice in their Executive Councilors.

 

Senate Election Law, 1-4PM, State House, Room 100, April 18, 2022.        
Sign in Closed   Click to see details   Comments
1:00PM

HB1163

Support: 171 Oppose: 37 Neutral: 3

relative to over voted ballots bill proposes solution to over votes - a ballot where the voter marked too many candidates for an office. Voting machines return over voted ballots for hand-counting by election officials.

Week of April 8 - April 15, 2022

House Special Committee on Redistricting, 10:00-4:30PM, April 14, 2022, LOB 201-203   T = Written/In-person testimony needed. Click on the T for testimony tips    
Sign in Closed   Click to see details   Comments
10:00 AM

SB240

T

Committee vote: Ought to Pass 8-7

apportioning state senate districts.

Majority party's Senate redistricting map for 2020-2030. This map would likely guarantee a veto-proof partisan supermajority in the Senate, and needs to be amended so that ALL Granite Staters can have competitive, fair elections for the next decade. Click the "T" to learn how the map affects your community,

and email the Committee your testimony: [email protected]

 

 

10:30 AM

SB241

T

Committee vote: Ought to Pass 8-7

apportioning executive council districts. Majority party's Executive Council redistricting map with amendment. This amendment "fixes" gerrymandered District 2 by packing more Democrat-leaning towns into District 2, and more Republican-leaning towns into District 4. The votes of voters in the opposite party in these districts will not be heard in the next decade's elections. Click the "T" to learn how the map affects your community, and 

and email the Committee your testimony: [email protected]

 

 

House Election Law Committee, Wednesday, April 13th, 2022

*Executive Session*

No sign-ins. Please send the Committee an email to support SB425 and oppose SB418.

Executive Session Complete   Click to see details   Comments

EMAIL:

[email protected]

SB418

Committee vote: 11-9 Ought to Pass with amendment

relative to verification of voter affidavits. creates a provisional ballot system where ballots will be deducted from the count if certain voters fail to certify their identity post-election. Will cast more doubt on elections that are already safe and secure, will disenfranchise the UOCAVA overseas military vote, and may cause NH to lose FITN status. TALKING POINTS

EMAIL:

[email protected]

SB425 

Committee vote: 11-9 Inexpedient to Legislate

relative to the establishment of an election information portal. Will modernize NH's elections and make it easier for folks to submit information to the clerk to register to vote, and change information (like address, party, etc) in their voter file.

 

 

Week of April 1 - April 8, 2022

House Election Law, 10:00-1:00PM, April 8, 2022, LOB 306-308    T = Written/In-person testimony needed. Click on the T for testimony tips    
Sign in CLOSED    Click to see details   Comments
10:00 AM

SB348

Support: 3

Oppose: 16

relative to political expenditures and contributions.

Relaxes current campaign finance regulations by allowing candidate committees, non-candidate political committees and political advocacy organizations unlimited contributions to the same. Allows persons or corporations unlimited contributions to political advocacy organizations.

10:30 AM

SB425

Support: 60

Oppose: 4

relative to the establishment of an election information portal.

This is a priority bill for ODA that modernizes NH's elections and makes the voting registration process easier for voters.

An election information portal would allow voters to easily and electronically input information into a system for town/city clerks approval. Voters could input registration info, change voter registration, request an absentee ballot, and change mailing or domicile addresses.  

11:00 AM

SB418

T

Support: 86

Oppose: 868

 

Talking points the same for the amended bill, EXCEPT that same-day registrants are NOT required to take a provisional ballot, unless they are registering for the first time in NH.

relative to verification of voter affidavits. creates a provisional ballot system where ballots will be deducted from the count if voters who come to the polls without photo ID fails to provide adequate documentation proving identity and domicile within 10 days. Will cast more doubt on elections that are already safe and secure, will disenfranchise the UOCAVA overseas military vote, and may cause NH to lose FITN status.

 

House Judiciary Committee, 9-4:30PM, April 7, 2022, LOB 206-208   T = written/in-person testimony needed    
Sign in CLOSED   Click to see details    
1:00 PM

SB302

Support: 7

Oppose: 12

establishing the personal privacy protection act.

A bill that DECREASES transparency in government in a time when we need more transparency. Also makes it  MORE difficult to track Dark money.

Prohibits public agencies and public bodies from releasing any list, record, register,
registry, roll, roster or other compilation of data of any kind.

 

House Election Law, 9:30-4:30PM, April 6, 2022, LOB 306-308  

 

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

   
Sign in CLOSED  

Click to see details

  Comments / Results
10:00 AM

SB364

Support: 48

Oppose: 1

relative to the use of electronic poll books. Electronic poll books are required to have a paper backup alongside E-pollbook use. This bill extends the lag time for the paper printout, from every 10 min to every 30 minutes.
10:30 AM

SB365

Support: 122

Oppose: 0

relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes. Makes the absentee ballot process easier for clerks and absentee registrants. This bill removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes unless
ballots are mailed to town or city clerks. The bill also allows clerks to open outer envelopes to allow applicants time to cure defects.
11:30 AM

SB427

Support: 189

Oppose:

3

T

bill permits absentee voting due to illness or other medical conditions.

Adds "illness or medical condition" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

Testimony points:

Folks voting absentee due to safety concerns for Covid-19 may not feel comfortable selecting "disability" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot, as they must do in current law, but could select "illness" with this law and vote absentee.

This bill also makes it easier for folks to vote absentee who are unable to make it to the polls for a non-Covid-related illness they may not consider a disability.

 

Senate Education, 1-4PM, April 6, 2022, LOB 101  

 

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

Click on the T for testimony tips

   
Sign in CLOSED  

Click to see details

  Comments / Results
1:20 PM

HB1594

Support: 91

Oppose:

3

relative to assistance to certain students with disabilities in registering to vote. Requires coordinators of individualized education programs (IEPs) to incorporate voter registration into those plans, if appropriate on a student-by-student basis, in schools where accessible voter registration is not already provided.

 

Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, 1-4PM, April 4, 2022, State House 100  

 

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

Click on the T for testimony tips

   
Sign in CLOSED  

Click to see details

  Comments / Results
1:00 PM

HB1153

Support: 7

Oppose: 28

relative to absentee ballot requests. Qualifies that absentee ballots can't be sent to voters before an absentee ballot request form is received by the clerk. As the law stands now, often clerks send both the absentee ballot and request form in one package. This bill will make it difficult for absentee voters to vote if they apply for a ballot close to elections, or if they don't have access to a printer, because they will have to wait for two forms to be mailed to them as opposed to one. Our procedures are already a gold standard, they don't need to be changed and made more difficult.
1:30 PM

HB1203

Support: 10

Oppose: 35

(New Title) relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters.

This is a good bill, that got stuck with a BAD amendment. We are opposing the bill as amended, which has the potential to make voting burdensome for folks who move frequently or have moved recently. It also includes language similar to language that was struck down by the NH Supreme Court in the SB3 case.  

Week of March 25 -  April 1, 2022

NH Senate Session, March 31st, 10AM, Senate Chamber

*Floor Vote*

No Sign in. See guidance below.

  Click to see details   Comments

13-11 passed, will next be heard in the House

SB418

 

Talking Points

(Talking points the same for the amended bill, EXCEPT that same-day registrants are NOT required to take a provisional ballot)

relative to verification of voter affidavits 

SB418 was amended and passed in committee. The amendment removes same-day voters from the group of people required to take a provisional ballot, but that does not go far enough to change this bill's potential to disenfranchise. Our next opportunity to stop this bill is at the full Senate vote this Thursday. Please call your NH Senator to oppose this BAD bill. See talking points for full details. 

It is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund.  It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile. 

Passed, will next be heard in the House

 

SB425 relative to the establishment of an election information portal

This is a priority bill for ODA that modernizes NH's elections and makes the voting registration process easier for voters.

An election information portal would allow voters to easily and electronically input information into a system for town/city clerks approval. Voters could input registration info, change voter registration, request an absentee ballot, and change mailing or domicile addresses.  

 

 

Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs Committee, 1-4PM, March 28, 2022, State House, Room 100      
Hearing CLOSED   Click to see details   Comments
2:15 PM

HB1567

Support: 16 Oppose: 92 Neutral: 0

(New Title) relative to consequences resulting from election official misconduct. This bill allows the AG to fine a county, city, town, school district, village district, or other political subdivision between $250-1000 when an election official is found to have engaged in misconduct. ODA opposes this bill because it intimidates poll workers. Also, it should be the Secretary of State's responsibility to properly train election officials and therefore take responsibility for mistakes, rather than fine municipalities for misconduct. 

 

Week of March 18 -  March 25, 2022

NH Senate Session, March 24th, 9AM-1PM, Senate Chamber

*Floor Vote*

No Sign in. See guidance below.

  Click to see Details   Comments
special ordered to next week, vote will be next week

SB418

 

Talking Points

(Talking points the same for the amended bill, EXCEPT that same-day registrants are NOT required to take a provisional ballot)

relative to verification of voter affidavits 

SB418 was amended and passed in committee. The amendment removes same-day voters from the group of people required to take a provisional ballot, but that does not go far enough to change this bill's potential to disenfranchise. Our next opportunity to stop this bill is at the full Senate vote this Thursday. Please call your NH Senator to oppose this BAD bill. See talking points for full details. 

It is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund.  It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile. 

 Passed (12-10) with amendment 1188s 

SB241

 

apportioning executive council districts 

SB241 unamended is the Executive Council redistricting map that is identical to NH's current redistricting map (with the "Dragon" District 2). 

Sen. Gray released an amendment that will be taken up Thursday on the floor. While District 2 no longer stretches from river to sea, the amendment does not change that the district is full of Democrat leaning towns. Further, there has been no public hearing on this bill; no chance for the public to weigh in on changes.

Call your Senator to oppose SB241 and ANY amendments that are not competitive and have not been given a public hearing.

 

Week of March 11 -  March 18, 2022

Full NH Senate Session, March 17th 9AM, Senate Chamber

*Floor Vote*

No Sign in on these bills. Please call your NH Senator and urge them to amend these maps so they are competitive, not gerrymandered.

Click for Analysis of bills

Session over

CALL

HB52

apportioning congressional districts.

 Senate passed 13-11

This is the House's approved bill, which rigs CD1 & CD2 to both be uncompetitive.  CD2 gets packed with Democratic-leaning towns, while CD1 is packed with Republican-leaning towns, breaking a 140-year tradition. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project, the ACLU and NH's Map-a-Thon project all have determined that the map is uncompetitive and gerrymandered.  

CALL

SB241

apportioning executive council districts

This is the Majority's proposed EC districts, that are the same as the 2010 gerrymandered districts. These districts include the "Dragon" district 2 that spans the state and is packed with Democrat-leaning towns, leaving the other districts more Republican-leaning.

 

Full NH House Session, March 15-17th, House Chamber

*Floor Vote*

No Sign in. See guidance on each bill below.

Session over

Call

HB1203 relative to domicile residency, voter registration, and investigation of voter verification letters, and relative to the terms "resident," "inhabitant," "residence," and "residency."

Please call your NH Representative and urge them to "Table" this bill.

This is a good bill, that got stuck with a BAD amendment. We are opposing the bill as amended, which has the potential to make voting burdensome for folks who move frequently/have moved recently. It also includes language similar to language that was struck down by the NH Supreme Court in the SB3 case.  

Call

HB1264

Laid on Table

establishing ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections.

Please call your NH Representative and urge them to pass/support this bill.

See talking points here.

 

NH Senate Election Law, March 14th, 2022

*Executive Session*

No Sign in. Please call Chairman Gray to vote "Interim Study" on SB418. An amendment was brought forth to clarify some language on this bill, but it's too little too late. The entire premise of this bill has negative consequences for voting rights and should be opposed. We're asking the committee to "study" the bill, with the hope that it will die in study and not be re-introduced.

Executive Session Over

CALL

SB418

Hearing results:

Support: 82 Oppose: 177 Neutral:  0

OTP with amendment

relative to verification of voter affidavits This is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund.  It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile.  This bill adversely affects students and the poor, resulting in disenfranchisement. ODA strongly opposes this bill.

Week of March 4 -  March 11, 2022

NH House Election Law, March 9th, 2022

*Executive Session Bills Below*

No Sign in on these bills, but we encourage you to call/email the Committee to oppose these bills and vote "Inexpedient to Legislate."

Executive Session Complete

HB1473-FN (interim study)

HB 1064-FN (ITL)

HB 1485-FN (ITL)

 HB 1542-FN (ITL)

HB 1543-FN (ITL)

CACR 15 (OTP with amendment 11-9)

HB 1567-FN (OTP with amendment 12 - 8)

Call/Email

One email for all bills is fine. These are all Big Lie bills we have opposed in the past. Scroll down for more details on each bill if needed, they are all described further down the page.

Many of these bills propose a solution where no problem exists, so your call/email might include the sentiment that "if it ain't broke...don't fix it." Or, why spend taxpayer money on sham election reviews, when our election has already been certified? Or a message based in voting rights, that ALL votes and all voices matter, elections are already secure and fair, no need to make it more complicated for the public to vote.

 

Senate Election Law, 1-4PM, March 7, 2022, State House, Room 100  

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

Click on the T for testimony tips

   
Sign in CLOSED   Click to see details   Comments
1:00 PM

HB87

Support: 6 Oppose: 95 Neutral: 0

relative to the definition of electioneering. Repeals the prohibition on electioneering related to clothing and/or paraphernalia for non-election officials.
1:15 PM HB144
Support: 151 Oppose: 9
Neutral: 0
relative to absentee ballot request forms. A bill that expands storm-related reasons for requesting an absentee ballot, and modernizes language around domicile location. 

Week of February 25 -  March 4, 2022

       No Hearings in NH Senate or House Election Law.

Week of February 18 -  February 25, 2022

House Election Law, 9-11AM, February 23, 2022, LOB 306-308  

 

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

Click on the T for testimony tips

 

   
Sign in CLOSED   Click to see details     Comments/Results
10:00 AM

CACR15

Support: 15 Oppose: 142 Neutral: 0
relating to elections. Providing that the age to vote in the primary election be reduced to 17 for those who will be 18 by the general election.

This hearing is a public hearing on non-germane amendment #2022-0735h to CACR 15, which is essentially a copy of CACR 36. We opposed CACR 36, which added "primary residence" to domicile and we think is another attempt to disenfranchise college students. 

We support this bill in its original form, but NOT in this amended form. We are opposing the amended form of this bill. 

 

*Executive Session Bills Below*

No Sign in on these bills, but we encourage you to send an email to the House Election Law Committee to support these bills before the executive session.     One email for both bills is fine.

Exec Session Over 11:00AM

HB1326

ITL

relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions.  ODA's "Corporate Ban" bill, which keeps business entities from using money our the corporation's treasury as campaign contributions.   Instead, they must use segregated funds for such activities, such as individual contributions by employees held in one fund.
Exec Session Over 11:00AM 

HB1394

ITL 

relative to the reporting of certain campaign contributions and relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies

Amends RSA 664 to insert LLCs into the requirements that "any political committee, political advocacy organization, or candidate that makes a contribution to any other committee, organization, or candidate of over $1,000 that is comprised of funds received from donations, contributions, dues, or gifts from a different entity shall include the total amount and source of such funds in any report required to be submitted pursuant to this chapter."  LLCs are a source of Dark Money because it is difficult to trace back ownership of the LLC.

 

House Transportation, Feb 22, 2022, 9-5pm, State House, Reps Hall  

 

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

Click on the T for testimony tips!

 

   
Sign in CLOSED   Click to see details     Comments/Results
9:00 AM

HB1643

T

Support: 5 Oppose: 125 Neutral: 0
modifying the new resident drivers' license transfer requirement.

This bill establishes a $10/month fine to be assessed on anyone establishing residency in NH who hasn't obtained an NH driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency.

It also requires the secretary of state to notify the department of safety when an individual's
record in the voter database contains information derived from an out-of-state driver's
license. 

We oppose this bill for its potential to intimidate and disenfranchise voters, particularly college students.

Week of February 11 -  February 18, 2022

House Floor Vote - Not a Hearing

NH House, February 16, 2022  

 

Click on "Call" to find your Representative's number, and "Talking Points" for information to share with your Rep.

   
Sign in CLOSED for this bill.   Click to see details     Comments/Results

 

 

 

HB1423

Call

Talking Points

relative to campaign contributions and expenditures, and making an appropriation therefor.

Priority Bill:  One of Granny D's signature reforms, ODA's Honest Elections public funding of elections bill will not only reduce the influence of special interests, it will help candidates without big money funding to compete.    It distributes four $25 Voter Dollars certificates to registered voters to donate to the gubernatorial or Executive Council candidates of their choice. This bill is being voted on by the full NH House on Wednesday, Feb 16th. Please call your NH House Rep urging them to support this bill.

 

Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, February 14, 2022, 1:00 - 4:00PM, State House, Room 100  

T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed 

Click on the T for testimony tips!

   
Sign in CLOSED for these bills   Click to see details     Comments/Results
1:00 PM

SB248

T

Support: 69

Oppose: 2

Committee rec: Interim Study

relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies An important bill for campaign finance reform that closes the LLC loophole, which currently lets business owners make multiple campaign contributions to a single candidate beyond the current contribution limit of $15,000. SB248 closes this loophole by requiring political contributions be allocated to per LLC's members, rather than per LLC itself, for purposes of determining whether contribution limits have been exceeded.
1:15 PM

SB348

Support: 11

Oppose: 28

relative to political expenditures and contributions.

Defines the limit on political contributions made by a person, corporation, candidate committee, non-candidate political committee, or political advocacy organization. However, wording is confusing as relates to contributions by partnerships and unions - are these contributions prohibited? Or prohibited only in excess of the defined limits? We are asking you to oppose this bill until we have more information/clarity on the bill's writing.

1:30 PM

SB365

Support: 61

Oppose: 1

OTP with amendment

relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes. Removes the requirement that absentee ballots be placed in outer envelopes, unless returned by mail to town or city clerk. Allows clerks to open outer envelopes of absentee ballots marked "not registered" to look at registration paperwork and notify voter so that voter may correct paperwork if paperwork is incomplete within 7 days of receiving ballot.

Week of February 5 -  February 11, 2022

House Election Law, February 10, 2022, 9:30 - 11:00AM, LOB, 306-308   T= Written/In-Person Testimony Needed    
Sign in CLOSED for these bills.   Click to see details    Comments/Results
10:00 AM

HB1324

Support: 2 Oppose: 188 Neutral: 0

 

Inexpedient to Legislate

establishing a formula to allocate presidential electors to presidential nominees. Instead of the "winner take all" system we have now, HB 1324 establishes a formula to allocate presidential electors starting in 2024. Candidates win electors based on the fraction of the popular vote they win.  An alarming provision tucked in the bill includes a provision which bypasses the NH SOS, and takes accusations of voter fraud in presidential elections to the NH Senate, then to the NH Supreme Court.
10:30 AM

HB1359

Support: 8 Oppose: 57 Neutral: 0

 

Inexpedient to Legislate

relative to the election-day duties of incumbent election officials who also appear on the ballot. Prohibits all election officials, except clerks, from performing election duties, electioneering, and standing within the guardrail during the counting of votes when that election official is on the ballot.
11:00 AM

HB1543

Support: 7 Oppose: 138 Neutral: 0

 

ITL

relative to the voter registration process. Modifies voter registration form to read "domicile/residence," among other edits, and establishes a provisional ballot system. Provisional ballots are given to voters registering on election day or whose voter registration information has not been verified by election day. Dangerous bill that creates a  provisional ballots system, segregates votes based on time of registration, and that allows clerks to invalidate votes without giving voters a chance to correct information that the clerk may deem incomplete or incorrect.

 

*Executive Session* - No Testimony Taken

Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs Committee, February 7, 2022, 1 - 4PM, State House, Room 100 

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed      
Sign in for this bill's hearing is now CLOSED  

Click to see details

  Comments / Results
   

HB50

Email

apportioning state representative districts. We *think* this bill, the NH house district maps, will be voted on in committee on Monday. Click on the "Email" link to send a final email to the committee members before their executive session, urging them to oppose these gerrymandered maps.

 

Week of January 28 - February 4, 2022

House Election Law, February 3, 2022, 9:30 - 10:30AM, LOB, 306-308

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed     
Sign in is now closed   Click to see details   Comments / Results
10:00 AM

HB1174

Support: 133 Oppose: 272 Neutral: 0
Ought to pass with Amendment
relative to election challengers. Again, based on debunked allegations of fraud, this allows partisan election challengers within 6 feet of any table where ballots are hand counted, and to maintain line of sight on any electric ballot counting device.   Observers are already allowed to observe, but must remain outside the "guardrail" to prevent interference or intimidation of election workers.
         

 

NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 31, 2022, 1 pm - 4 pm ***Representatives Hall*** 2nd Floor, State House

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed    
Sign in is now closed
  Click to see details   Comments / Results
1:00 PM

CACR36

OTP with Amendment (3-2)

Senate Laid on Table

residency for the purpose of voting. Providing that only residents of the state may vote in elections. This proposed NH Constitutional amendment adds these two sentences: "All elections are to be free, and every person who is a citizen of the United States and a citizen of the state of New Hampshire, and 18 years of age and upwards shall have an equal right to vote in any election.  Every person shall be considered a citizen of the state of New Hampshire for the purposes of voting in town, ward, or unincorporated place where that person is domiciled and has primary residency."   Sounds innocuous enough, but the definition of "primary residency" may be another effort to keep college students legally domiciled in NH from voting. 
1:20 PM

SB255

Interim study (3-2)

establishing redistricting criteria. Currently there is limited constitutional or statute criteria for redistricting, which allows legislators to gerrymander for partisan advantage.   This bill defines -- only for the NH House and Senate districts, "communities of interest" as  similarities of interests, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, economic, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities.  Communities of interest shall not include common relationships with political parties or political candidates," and prohibits "unduly favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent, or candidate for office."  ODA supports this bill, but urges the Senate to include the Executive Council in this statute.
1:45 PM

HB50

T

Hearing:

Support: 5

Oppose: 376

Committee Vote: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0560s

Full Senate: Passed 14-10

House Concurs

apportioning state representative districts. The majority's proposal passed the House with few changes.  We oppose this bill because it gerrymanders some districts for partisan gain, but more importantly denies 56 towns their NH Constitution-guaranteed dedicated House seats, when the Map-a-Thon proved that number could be substantially lower.  An amendment has been proposed which includes changes to Coos County & Hillsborough County.
1:45 PM

HB52

T

Hearing:

Support 5

Oppose 547

Committee vote: OTP without amendment

 

 

apportioning congressional districts. This is the House's approved bill, which rigs CD1 & CD2 to both be uncompetitive.  CD2 gets packed with Democratic-leaning towns, while CD1 is packed with Republican-leaning towns, breaking a 140-year tradition.  The Princeton Gerrymandering Project, the ACLU and NH's Map-a-Thon project all have determined that the map is uncompetitive and gerrymandered.  ODA strongly opposes this bill.  Amendments are expected to this bill, but have not yet been posted.
         

 

 

House Election Law, February 2, 2022, 9:30 - 2 pm ***Representatives Hall*** 2nd Floor, State House

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed     
Sign in is now closed   Click to see details   Comments / Results
9:30 AM

HB1484

Support: 290 Oppose: 302 Neutral: 1
Inexpedient to Legislate
Laid on Table
requiring a forensic audit of the 2020 election results.

This is a crackpot Big Lie bill of the first order. It requires the speaker of the house to appoint an outside party to do a sham recount of the Nov 3, 2020 general election.  It also sets up a fund to offset the costs of the recount to be administered by the secretary of state and can be paid into by private donors.

10:30 AM

HB1473

Support: 275 Oppose: 289 Neutral: 0

 

Interim study

authorizing a forensic audit of the November 3, 2020 election results in Merrimack county for president, governor, and United States senate races.

Outlines how a sham election review is to be conducted and who is to be elected to the third party audit team. 

NH already has recount and proper audit mechanisms in place to address the rare occurrence of a questioned process. This sole purpose of this partisan exercise is to cast doubt on the 2020 election. 

 

 

House Education, February 2, 2022, LOB, 205-207

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed     
Sign in is now closed   Click to see details   Comments / Results
9:00 AM

HB1594

Support: 143 Oppose: 28 Neutral: 0

relative to assistance to certain students with disabilities in registering to vote. Requires coordinators of individualized education programs (IEPs) or accommodations to incorporate voter registration into those plans, if appropriate, on a student-by-student basis, in schools where accessible voter registration is not already provided.

 

 

Week of January 21 - Jan 28, 2022

NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 24, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100

 

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed    
Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below
 
  Click to see details   Comments / Results
2:00 PM

SB425

Committee Vote:

Ought to Pass (5-0)

relative to the establishment of an election information portal. Priority Bill:  This is the return of Sen. Gray's online voter portal (not to be confused with an online registration system).  This portal would allow the voter to directly input information & documents into a system the NH SOS administers, and transmits it to town or city clerks  for final approval.   Voters could input registration info, change voter registration, request an absentee ballot, and change mailing or domicile addresses.   ODA supports modernizing elections, and this would be a step into the 20th (not quite the 21st) century for the state.
2:20 PM

SB427

Support: 85 Oppose: 26 

T

OTP with amendment

modifying the absentee voter registration process, absentee ballot application, and absentee ballot voting process. Priority Bill:  This current absentee ballot application "disability" language currently limited to four allowable excuses.  SB 427 allows a voter to request an absentee ballot with "no excuse," allowing any qualified voter to use it.

 

NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 26, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100

 

  T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed    
Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below
 
  Click to see details   Comments / Results
Neutral 1:45 PM

HB54

Support: 1 Oppose: 0

Committee Vote:

OTP (3-2)

apportioning county commissioner districts.

This is the state's voting district map of county commissioner seats.  Neither ODA nor the Map-a-Thon Project has taken a position on these maps.

Download the map in PDF

Neutral 1:45 PM

HB55

Support: 5 Oppose: 0

Committee Vote:

OTP (3-2)

Amended By Senate

House Concurs

apportioning delegates to state party conventions. This map apportions political party delegates who will attend state conventions of the parties.   There was some question in the House Special Committee as to why this was even a function of the state legislature.  Neither ODA nor the Map-a-Thon Project has taken a position on this map.

 

NH House

No House Election Law this week.

NH House Judiciary Committee - Jan. 27, 9 - 5 pm, LOB Rm. 206-208
       
Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below
 
       
11:00 AM

HB1014

T

Support: 338 Oppose: 15 Neutral: 0

 

Laid on Table

allowing public meetings to be conducted virtually. This bill addresses what many advocacy organizations have been asking for since the 2020 emergency orders expired.   HB 1014 would allow both interactive online participation by the public, it would also allow legislators to be able to participate and vote remotely.   ODA supports this bill because it allows greater participation by the public.   If you would benefit from participating remotely, please submit testimony on this bill.
         

 

 


Week of January 17 - 23, 2022

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE

House Election Law, January 19, 2022, LOB, Rm 306-308 T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed
Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below
  Click to see details   Comments / Results
9:45 AM

HB1252

Hearing

Support: 54 Oppose: 2 Neutral: 0

Inexpedient to Legislate

 

relative to political contributions made by certain business entities.

This amend RSA 664:4 to ban political contributions by any person or business entity that has received any grant from the state of New Hampshire in the last 2 years.

10:00 AM

HB1326

Hearing

Support: 69 Oppose: 3 Neutral: 0

relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions.

ODA's "Corporate Ban" bill, which keeps business entities from using money our the corporation's treasury as campaign contributions.   Instead, they must use segregated funds for such activities, such as individual contributions by employees held in one fund.

10:30 AM

HB1394

Hearing

Support: 63 Oppose: 2 Neutral: 0

relative to the reporting of certain campaign contributions and relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies.

Amends RSA 664 to insert LLCs into the requirements that "any political committee, political advocacy organization, or candidate that makes a contribution to any other committee, organization, or candidate of over $1,000 that is comprised of funds received from donations, contributions, dues, or gifts from a different entity shall include the total amount and source of such funds in any report required to be submitted pursuant to this chapter."  LLCs are a source of Dark Money because it is difficult to trace back ownership of the LLC.

 

 

10:45 AM

HB1423

Hearing

T

Support: 95 Oppose: 8 Neutral: 0

 

inexpedient to legislate (ITL)

relative to campaign contributions and expenditures, and making an appropriation therefor.

Priority Bill:  One of Granny D's signature reforms, ODA's Honest Elections public funding of elections bill will not only reduce the influence of special interests, it will help candidates without big money funding to compete.    It distributes four $25 Voter Dollars certificates to registered voters to donate to the gubernatorial or Executive Council candidates of their choice.   Written testimony encouraged by Tuesday night for distribution Wednesday, January 19.

11:00 AM

HB1542

Hearing

Support: 13 Oppose: 140 Neutral: 1

ITL

relative to documentation required to prove a voter's eligibility to vote. This Big Lie bill attempts to make voters who do not have/own a state identification to fill out a "provisional" ballot, which would NOT BE COUNTED unless the voter returns the same day.   This could disenfranchise the poor, the elderly, young voters, disabled and other voters for who do not have or can't afford a state ID at a cost of $50.  
1:30 PM

HB1442

Hearing

Support: 126 Oppose: 6 Neutral: 0

ITL

relative to access to election and voter information.  This bill allows, and sets costs for, the distribution of voter checklist information in multiple languages.  Reportedly, the bill will be amended to include voter registration information in multiple languages for cities where compliance with the Voting Rights Act thresholds are met.

 

House Election Law, Jan.  20, 2022, State House, Rm 100

T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed

 
Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below   Click to see details   Comments / Results
9:30 AM

HB1567

Hearing

Support: 16 Oppose: 92 Neutral: 0
OTP with amendment (12-8)
relative to the removal of election officials from office. A Big Lie bill which allows voters to bring a suit against election officials for to the conduct of elections for failure to perform such official's election duties.   ODA sees this as a dangerous bill which is designed to intimidate election officials from running a fair and nonpartisan election.
10:00 AM

HB1485

Hearing

Support: 15 Oppose: 41 Neutral: 0

ITL

relative to direct recall elections. This allows any town official serving a three-year term to be subject to a recall election if a voter can obtain enough signatures to reach 10% of the previous town or city election turnout.   ODA opposes this bill because the bar is dangerously low and makes it easy to frivolously recall an official, and is expensive to cities and towns to run additional elections.

 

NH Senate

 NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 20, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100

T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed

Sign in is now CLOSED for bills below  

 

   
2:30 PM

SB418

Hearing-

Support: 82 Oppose: 177 Neutral:  0

OTP with amendment

relative to verification of voter affidavits. This is a Big Lie bill intended to do an end-run around New Hampshire's Qualified Voter Affidavit system, which NH chose to do to accept Help America Vote Act (HAVA) fund.  It creates a system of provisional ballots of a different identifying color which will be deducted from the count if the voter fails to return with adequate documentation proving identity and domicile.  This bill adversely affects students and the poor, resulting in disenfranchisement. ODA strongly opposes this bill.

Week of January 10 - 16, 2022

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE

House Election Law, January 13, 2022, LOB, Rm 306-308

T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed
Sign in Now Closed
  Click to see details   Comments / Results
9:30 AM

CACR17

ITL

relating to ballot measures. Providing that upon petition by voters, a question may be placed on the ballot of a statewide election. NH currently has no ballot initiative provision, and the argument has been that with so many reps, it wasn't necessary.  But issues like redistricting, where the voice of the people has been ignored, make an argument for a constitutional amendment allowing a ballot initiative.  This constitutional amendment would allow for a separate ballot initiative when signatures of 5% of registered voters have been collected.
10:00 AM

HB1482

Hearing

ITL

relative to ranked-choice voting. Establishes a system of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for state general elections in New Hampshire.
10:30 AM

HB1264

Hearing

Laid on Table

establishing ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections. Establishes Ranked Choice Voting for state primary elections and municipal elections.  
11:00 AM

CACR22

ITL

relating to elections. Providing that all elections in New Hampshire shall be by ranked-choice voting. A constitutional amendment which establishes that all elections in New Hampshire should be conducted through Ranked Choice Voting.
1:00 PM

CACR15

Hearing

OTP with amendment

relating to elections. Providing that the age to vote in the primary election be reduced to 17 for those who will be 18 by the general election. Amends Article 11 of the NH Constitution to allow citizens who will be 18 by the general election to be able to register and vote in the state primary at age 17.
1:30 PM

CACR19

Hearing

relating to paper ballots. Providing that all elections shall be conducted through paper ballots. This proposed constitutional amendment which would require all NH elections to be conducted on paper ballots.  It does not specify how those ballots should be counted, but would disallow modern voting electronic voting machines such as touch screen systems. 
2:00 PM

HB1064

Support: 276 Oppose: 191 Neutral: 0
ITL
requiring the use of hand-marked, durable paper ballots in elections. Like CACR 19, this Big Lie bill would require the use of paper ballots, but additionally specifies that no electronic ballot counting devices can be used, and all ballots must be hand counted, even in large towns and cities  where tens of thousands of ballots would have to be hand counted.  Such a bill would cost municipalities in extra labor, and hand counting has proved to be overall less accurate.
2:30 PM

HB1157

Hearing

OTP

relative to electronic ballot counting devices. Yet another Big Lie bill, this one prohibiting the connection of any electronic ballot counting device from being connected to the internet.   Thus security and maintenance updates for the machines would need to be done in person.   NH's current AccuVote machines are so old that they don't have the ability to connect, but it would have an impact on future equipment. 
  3:00 PM

HB1247

Support: 19 Oppose: 4 Neutral: 0
relative to folded ballots. The problem and subsequent audit in 2020 and 2021 in Windham was likely caused by folded ballots being misread by the AccuVote readers.   This bill disallows folded ballots from being read by machine and requires them to be hand counted.

 

NH SENATE

NH Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs, Jan. 12, 1-4 pm, State House, Rm 100 

T = Written/In-Person Testimony Needed

Sign in Now Closed   Click to see details   Comments / Results
1:20 PM

SB242

Committee Vote: 

Ought to Pass (4-0)

 

relative to the disqualification of certain persons from performing the duties of an election official. A failed 2021 bill attempted to disallow moderators from counting or handling ballots if that person was on the ballot him or herself.    This 2022 bill expands the scope to any official, but excluding election officials.  For instance, you could be running for selectboard or another position, and you would be disqualified from handling ballots.  If running just for moderator or supervisor, the statute would not apply.  ODA feels that this rule would severely hamper elections in smaller towns.
  1:40 PM

SB328

Hearing-

Support: 6

Oppose: 2

Neutral: 0

Committee Vote: 

Ought to Pass with Amendment

relative to the date of the state primary election. proposes state primary be moved to June.
2:00 PM

SB364

Committee Vote:

Ought to Pass (4-0)

Hearing

relative to the use of electronic poll books. This a bill which follows 2021's attempt to approve electronic poll books, which aid election workers in checking voters in and in processing absentee ballots.  It will reduce lines, reduce labor, and should improve accuracy of data entry.
  2:20 PM

SB366

Hearing:

Support: 15  Oppose: 5  Neutral: 0

Committee Vote: Ought to Pass (5-0) with Amendment

requiring an audit of ballots cast in the 2022 primary and general election. This bill aims to do a spot check of 1-3% or 3 or 4 AccuVote ballot reading machines to identify any problems which might occur with the machines.
         

 


2021 NH House Special Committee on Redistricting "Public Listening Sessions"

Posted on Take Action by Brian Beihl · September 11, 2021 10:18 AM · 2 reactions

The NH House Special Committee on Redistricting and NH Senate Redistricting Committee will conduct "public listening sessions" in each NH county during September & October 2021.   As someone who is concerned about how a fair, nonpartisan and transparent redistricting process affects your representation in Concord and in Washington, we need you to attend and speak up for a fair process.  

We demand a fair, nonpartisan & transparent redistricting process

As we understand it, these meetings will be in-person and will NOT have an interactive Zoom option for remote testimony.  They will likely NOT have a YouTube live option as has been the case with Legislative Office Building meetings in Concord, further limiting transparency.

Given the COVID situation, we understand that not all volunteers are comfortable being inside for the meeting, so we have other outdoor and stay-at-home options.  That said, we are trying to mobilize as many in-the-room attendees as possible.   Through incompetence or intention, there has been an effort to limit the public input into the redistricting process which must be overcome to assure fair maps.

Please follow the links to RSVP for one or more meeting.  After RSVPing, you'll be taken to a page where you'll be able to choose HOW you want to participate:  Sit inside (from any county); Sit inside and testify in person (from this county); Help explain the maps at inside/outside table; Stay outside and hold signs; Stay outside with clipboard; Stay at home and help make turnout phone calls; Stay at home and submit written testimony.

  • See the YouTube Video- Oct 5 2021 6:00PM - Rockingham County, County Superior Courthouse, 10 RT 125, Brentwood,NH 03833
  • See the YouTube Video- Oct 7 2021 6:00PM - Coos County, County Superior Court, 55 School Street, Suite 301, Lancaster, NH 03584
  • See the YouTube Video - Oct 12 2021 6:00PM - Cheshire County, County Hall, Room: Delegation Hall, 12 Court St, Keene, NH 04341
  • See the YouTube Video - Oct 13 2021 6:00PM - Sullivan County, Claremont Savings Bank Community Center-Room B, 152 South Street, Claremont, NH 03743
  • See the YouTube Video - Oct 14 2021 6:00PM - Carroll County, Kennett High School, 409 Eagles Way, North Conway, NH 03860
  • RSVP - Oct. 18 2021 6:00PM - Hillsborough County, Goffstown High School, - Theater, 27 Wallace Rd, Goffstown, NH 03045 
  • RSVP - Oct 19 20201 6 pm - Belknap County, Belknap Mill in Laconia, 25 Beacon St E # 1, Laconia, NH 03246

Submit Testimony Electronically

Whether you are going in person, or just submitting in writing, please submit your written testimony to BOTH committees:

Go here to submit testimony to the NH House Special Committee on Redistricting via email

Go here to submit testimony to the NH House Special Committee on Redistricting via the online portal (will be posted on the website)

Go here to submit testimony to the NH Senate Redistricting Committee

Open Democracy Action will make 20 copies of your testimony and will deliver it to the Hillsborough & Belknap County hearings.  Please send to our administrator Doreen by Monday, Oct. 18 by noon.

See others' testimony on our Google drive.  Please don't copy and paste, but use it for inspiration!

 

 

 


For the People Act Action Page

Posted by Brian Beihl · June 10, 2021 7:14 PM

What Can One Person Do to Get the Freedom to Vote passed? 

We're often asked what can one person do to protect the freedom to vote, get money out of politics, or make sure our voting districts aren't gerrymandered.   A lot, actually!   The founder of our organization, Doris "Granny D" Haddock, walked across the United States when she was 89 years old and is credited with getting the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform bill passed! 

Coming up for votes this fall is the Freedom to Vote Act, a democracy reform bill which includes the most significant democracy protections since the 1965 Voting Rights Act.   Among the provisions, as detailed at Common Cause's website:

  • Modernize Voter Registration
    • Automatic Voter Registration
    • Same-Day and Online Registration
    • Protect Against Flawed Purges
  • Restore the Voting Rights Act
  • Restore Voting Rights to People with Prior Convictions
  • Strengthen Mail Voting Systems
  • Institute Nationwide Early Voting
  • Preventing Unreasonable Wait Times at the Polls
  • Protect Against Deceptive Practices

So, what can you do to help get the Freedom to Vote Act passed?  

Here are some actions we've prepared to make it easy for you to do a simple yet powerful action.  Several of these were developed for our Open Democracy Teams, but you need not be a team member to do them.   Do as many as you have time for, AND share this page with your politically-active family and friends.  Our object right now is to mobilize as many people as possible to contact their U.S. Senator by phone, letter, postcard or email.   PHONE is most important!

 

Action #

Action Objective / For Whom is the Action Intended? Information You Need Sample Deadline for Completion

1

Call Sen. Hassan 

Phone call to U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (or your senator, if not from NH) to tell her you support the For the People Act
Anti-Freedom to Vote Act dark money groups are mobilizing calls to Sen. Hassan because she's up for reelection.   We need to phone in our support for Freedom to Vote Act, and tell your story as to why the bill is important to you.
888-453-3211  (Senate Switchboard - ask for the Senator's office)
Senator Maggie Hassan's NH Office, 603-622-2204

 

 

Sample Script
June 22

2

Call Sen. Hassan - Filibuster

Phone call to U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (or your senator, if not from NH) to tell her to either modify or get rid of the filibuster
Sen. Hassan needs to hear from voters about getting rid of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to end, but may be open to changing it to allow this bill.  
888-453-3211  (Senate Switchboard - ask for the Senator's office)
Senator Maggie Hassan's NH Office, 603-622-2204
 
Sample Phone Script

June 22

3

Call Sen. Shaheen 

Phone call to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen  (or your senator, if not from NH)
Sen. Shaheen supports the Freedom to Vote Act, but needs to be persuaded to become a CHAMPION of the bill and convince her colleagues.
888-453-3211  (Senate Switchboard - ask for the Senator's office)
Senator Shaheen's NH Office, 603-647-7500
Sample Script
June 22

4

Call Sen. Shaheen - Filibuster

Phone call to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (or your senator, if not from NH) to tell her to either modify or get rid of the filibuster
Sen. Shaheen has expressed a willingness to change or get rid of the filibuster in the past. 
888-453-3211  (Senate Switchboard - ask for the Senator's office)
Senator Shaheen's NH Office, 603-647-7500
Sample Script
June 22

5

Share the Action Page w/Sympathetic Folks

Share this Freedom to Vote Action page by email with 5 or more friends to get them to take action
We need as many different folks to call as possible.  Someday, bad actors will come for YOUR vote, too!
https://www.opendemocracyaction.org/forthepeopleactaction
Sample Social Media  Copy & Graphic
We want you as part of the team to help us pass the #HR1 / #S1 #ForthePeopleAct.  We have a dozen of simple actions you can take to help make this happen. 
https://www.opendemocracyaction.org/for_the_people_act_action_page  

June 20

6

Phone Banking Tuesdays

Help Us Make Calls to NH Voters during our phone bank on Tuesday nights 6-8 pm.

This type of phone banking uses your computer and microphone, and an autodialer, to make the calls.  You'll be calling liberals and independents who are likely supporters of HR1/S1 to get them to call Senator Hassan's office.   You will be connecting the voter to the office with a button push.
Sign up to help and pick your dates: 
https://www.mobilize.us/endcitizensunited/event/393474/
This is with our partners End Citizens United and 603 Forward. 
Scripts are built in to the program. 
Training will be provided at the beginning of the evening.
June 14, June 21

7

Sign/Share Petition

Sign the petition letter to Sens. Hassan & Shaheen & SHARE in your social media channels
To be successful, this petition needs you to SHARE the link on social media. 
https://www.opendemocracynh.org/nhforthepeopleact
Just go to the page and sign it.  You'll receive an email in response to SHARE.  You'll also be given a chance to share via social media.
June 22

8

Texting Team

Help us text voters to call Sens. Hassan and Shaheen

We're teaming up with a national partner, Movement Labs,  to do some automated  texting.   For folks who don't like phone banking, this is another way to help generate calls to the Senators.  This system uses your computer to send the texts and receive the replies.
Contact Brian Beihl to volunteer

1) Contact Brian and tell him you'd like to help

2) RSVP at the ODA website:

https://www.opendemocracyaction.org/2021_textbank

3)  Take the 10 min. training

Between Friday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 22.

 

9

Yard Signs

Make a sign for your yard, and for your neighbors & family
Get your neighbors to call your Senators
 
Sample Signs
ASAP

10

Do an Event

Hold an Event in Your Town
  • Sign holding
  • Tabling at an event

 

The goal is to get others in your town to call the Senator's offices. 
Signs should have phone number for Senators.  You don't need to coordinate with us, but we would like to support you by getting the word out if we can. 

Also, if possible, get people to call while they're at the event.

  ASAP

11

Share on Social

Share our For the People Act graphic in your social media channels
Get others to call their U.S. Senators to support S. 1 and get rid or change the filibuster to get it done.
Patriotic Americans want to see their freedom to vote protected, equal access for all voters, keep billionaires from buying our elections, and ethics reforms to keep our politicians working for us. That's why smart voters support the For the People Act, and are calling their U.S Senators at 888-453-3211 to tell them to do what it takes to get it passed.
More graphics will be added to our facebook page.   

12

Write an LTE

ASAP, Write letters to the editor urging others to call their Senators
Let's flood the local papers with requests for people to support the For the People Act  - Please read the samples with stats of how both Republican & Democratic voters support the bill.

The NH Sierra Club has a great tool with the email addresses and specs for LTEs for the larger NH papers.

https://www.sierraclub.org/new-hampshire/how-submit-letter-editor-lte-new-hampshire

Samples   - go ahead and write one if you're ready

 

ASAP

13

Join a Team

Join a NH-based Open Democracy Team
Our six teams educate you, so you can take action and educate others.  Like this action page, we have a team action page that is updated with prepared activities each week so you can take smart, targeted actions.
https://www.opendemocracyaction.org/regional_democracy_teams
Teams meet weekly or biweekly.  

14

Make a Selfie

Make a video, distribute it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
Urge your friends to call their Senators.  Make sure to give the number, 888-453-3211
You can use your phone, computer or tablet to record.  No titling or graphics are necessary. 
Sample script for your video

Sample video https://youtu.be/cU1RyUfk-Ko

 

ASAP

15

 Share the For the People Song

This video was made by some members of our North Country Open Democracy Team.   It's fun and helps explain the big points of the bill.  Copy & paste the post at right, and the graphic for the video will pop into Facebook.
Copy & Paste:
Check out this song about about the For the People Act, written and performed by Granite Staters. The #S1 #ForthePeopleAct comes up for a vote soon, so call your U.S. Senator now, 888-453-3211, and please SHARE!  https://youtu.be/tk-esT6o8eA
ASAP
           
           
           
           

 

Sign up

Open Democracy Action's Action of the Week

Posted on Take Action by Brian Beihl · February 06, 2021 12:10 PM · 1 reaction

Action of the Week - A Simple But Powerful Action You Can Take

Questions / Comments / Corrections, contact Brian Beihl, Deputy Director

-  Updated May 18, 2021 -

This week's Action: 

Wednesday, May 19, at 9:30, NH Election Law hears testimony on a surprise, non-germane amendment to SB 89.   This amendment tries to prevent the use of election rules in the federal H.R. 1 / S. 1 For the People Act for state and county elections. 

Given the refusal of the NH Legislature to pass sensible bills which allow every voter to be heard, we think that the provisions of H.R. 1 / S. 1 For the People Act are huge steps forward, and support the implementation nationally and here in NH. 

Here is your action:

Please sign in to oppose this SB 89 amendment via the House Calendar!  http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

  1. Select “Wed. May 19th”
  2. Select “House Election law”
  3. Select “SB 89 amendment 2021-1445h ”
  4. Select “I oppose this bill”
  5. Then complete the address information

If you want to speak against the amendment: Under testimony, select “Testimony is for non-germane amendment.” 

 9:30 a.m. SB 89 Amendment Public Hearing on non-germane amendment #2021-1445h to SB 89..  The amendment adds a part VI to the bill which would not allow NH to follow the For the People Act rules, if it passes,  for county or state elections.  A similar amendment was defeated in Texas last week, suggesting that this may be a coordinated national effort to neutralize H.R. 1 / S. 1.   Should it pass, Open Democracy Action would oppose SB 89.   The NH Senate would have to “concur” on SB 89 after such an amendment.  Open Democracy Action opposes this amendment

Thank you for taking this simple action!

 

Brian Beihl, Deputy Director, Open Democracy Action

 

 

 


If you did this action and want to do more, consider joining an Open Democracy Team.   Our six regional teams are briefed each week for an hour and given 1-3 actions each week, but with more learning and strategy involved.   Actions include writing letters to legislators, letters to the editor, working with your local election officials on issues, calling your state reps and senators, and fun actions like this signs, walks, parades and festivals.   You can choose your level of commitment, but you'll be a smarter, more engaged, more powerful citizen as a result!  Check it out


Absentee Ballot Request Social Media Materials

Posted on Take Action by Brian Beihl · June 01, 2020 2:59 PM

New Hampshire friends: 

Tens of thousands of NH voters may be concerned enough about COVID-19 to NOT go to the polls this fall.  We're counting on your action to help the vote safely, protecting them, their families and our poll workers.

  • The grid below has graphics and messages for you to use:
  • A Facebook graphic and post text
  • A Facebook profile picture to use, which folks will see every time you post
  • An Instagram graphic and post text
  • An email to send to your friends and family, or to groups to which you belong
  • A Twitter post and graphic
  • A poster for you to print out, or to order preprinted from us.

Thank you for this act of kindness to your fellow NH citizens, because no one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote!

Facebook Post

(Right click and save graphic, cut & paste text)

Suggested text:
[Please SHARE & Save Lives!]
We want everyone in New Hampshire that if they have COVID-19 concerns, and don't wish to vote in person, they can request an absentee ballot.  Do it ASAP.

Download or request your absentee ballot application at your town's website or go to our new web page for a link to the Secretary of State's document download page.
We've created a guide to help you at https://www.opendemocracynh.org/absentee Fill out your application completely, marking "COVID-19" as your excuse, then sign -- in ink-- the application's affidavit.

Nationally, experts predict that 50% of all ballots cast in 2020 will be by absentee ballot. The longer you wait, the more overwhelmed our town and city clerks will be as the election draws near. #StayatHomeVoteatHome   SHARE this!

Email

(Right click and save graphic, cut & paste text)

Suggested text:
Hi, Friends:
I'm writing to friends in New Hampshire that if they have COVID-19 concerns, and don't wish to vote in person, they can request an absentee ballot.  Do it ASAP.

Download or request your absentee ballot application at your town's website or go to our new web page for a link to the Secretary of State's document download page.
Open Democraacy has created a guide to help you at https://www.opendemocracynh.org/absentee Fill out your application completely, marking "COVID-19" as your excuse, then sign -- in ink-- the application's affidavit.

Nationally, experts predict that 50% of all ballots cast in 2020 will be by absentee ballot. The longer you wait, the more overwhelmed our town and city clerks will be as the election draws near.   
Thanks, stay safe, and please let me know if you have questions.

Instagram Post

(Right click and save graphic, cut & paste text)

Suggested text:
[Please SHARE & Save Lives!]
New rules in NH allow voters concerned with COVID-19 to vote by absentee ballot. Follow this link http://www.OpenDemocracyNH.org/absentee for more info and find links to download your application. Keep poll workers and fellow voters SAFE and SHARE this post with you friends!

 

30-Second Video PSA in MP4 (works with Facebook, Twitter

 View & right click to save the file:    http://www.beihl.org/OpenDemocracy/absenteeballot/NHAbsenteeBallotRequestRunUntil20201031.mp4

 

Facebook Profile Picture

(Right click and save graphic)

If you're able, replace your Facebook profile picture with the "Ask Me About Absentee" profile button.  We've already heard this is working!

Twitter Post

(Right click and save graphic, cut & paste text)

AbsenteeBallotTwitter1.jpg

Suggested text:
[Please SHARE & Save Lives!]
New rules in NH allow voters concerned with COVID-19 to vote by absentee ballot. Follow this link http://www.OpenDemocracyNH.org/absentee for more info and find links to download your application. Keep poll workers and fellow voters SAFE.

 Printable Poster

This poster can be printed 8-1/2 x 11 or 11x17 at home for distribution on community bulletin boards.  Or, if you would like us to send printed copies, we're happy to make some for you.  Contact Doreen to order copies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


NH Democracy Report

Posted on State House by Garrett Walker · February 02, 2020 12:16 PM · 19 reactions

NHDR_Logo5.png

The New Hampshire Democracy Report is a weekly letter sharing updates on democracy reform bills as they pass through the New Hampshire State House.

Here are our recent newsletters:  

2021

June 4, 2021 NH Democracy Report

May 24, 2021 NH Demcracy Report

May 17, 2021 NH Democracy Report

May 10, 2021 NH Democracy Report

May 3, 2021 NH Democracy Report

April 26, 2021 NH Democracy Report

April 18, 2021 NH Democracy Report

No report April 12

April 5, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 28, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 21, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 14, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 7, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 1, 2021 NH Democracy Report

February 22, 2021 NH Democracy Report

February 14, 2021 NH Democracy Report

February 7, 2021 NH Democracy Report

January 31, 2021 NH Democracy Report

January 24, 2021 NH Democracy Report

January 18, 2021 NH Democracy Report

2020

March 2, 2020 New Hampshire Democracy Report

Feb. 10, 2020 New Hampshire Democracy Report

Feb. 2, 2020  New Hampshire Democracy Report

Sign up

Campaign Finance Corruption Chorus

Posted on Take Action by Brian Beihl · January 03, 2020 9:37 AM · 9 reactions

We're combining two of our favorite actvities:   Singing and Social Action!

Announcing the 2020 Campaign Finance Corruption Chorus, sponsored by Open Democracy Action.   Our mission will be to sing "Corruption Carols" at campaign events in the last few weeks of the  2020 New Hampshire Primary, as well as carolling around Manchester where the national and international press hangs out.  

This will be a relaxed and FUN group with a humorous yet powerful message.    We're still working out the attire, but thinking we'll have matching warm hats and maybe scarves which will be provided to our singers. 

RSVP your interest by filling out the form below.   We're hoping to have our first rehearsal shortly.  

Thank you and hope to hear you soon!

Brian Beihl

Deputy Director, Open Democracy Action

603-620-8300

Sign up

About Open Democracy Teams

Posted on Take Action by Brian Beihl · November 20, 2019 4:50 PM · 1 reaction

Open Democracy Action's Regional Democracy Teams (RDTs) are a collaborative of Granite Staters taking weekly steps to make the promise of democracy real for all. Since inception in 2019, the RDTs have collectively taken thousands of actions to protect the freedom to vote, limit the influence of wealthy special interest groups, and ensure everyone has an equal say in government.

"Democracy isn't something we HAVE, it's something we DO." - Doris "Granny D" Haddock

The RDTs are open to all, whether or not you have experience "doing" democracy or are joining the cause for the first time.  In the spirit of our founder Doris "Granny D" Haddock, who at 89 years old walked across the United States for campaign finance reform, the RDTs are a testament to the power of everyday people to make change. 

Go to the Regional Teams sign-up page

Photo credit: Ann Ravel

Past campaigns have included:

Calls/letters to local and state elected officials

Marches

Testifying at public hearings on legislation

Letters to the editor

Holding signs locally and at the State House for bills or causes

Educating the public, through movies, plays, tabling at events, monthly book club, etc

Social media campaigns

Birddogging elected officials

Performances by the "Corruption Chorus"

Street theater performances

Building relationships with pro-democracy organizations

and more!

No matter your skill-set, there is a way you can get involved!

Time to Take Action!

Join a Regional Democracy Team


New Hampshire Democracy Report: update: June 14, 2019

Posted on State House by Brian Beihl · July 06, 2019 2:03 PM


House Concurs with Senate on Amendment for HB 706 Nonpartisan Redistricting Bill; Goes to Governor

Great news!Establishment of a nonpartisan redistricting commission moved a step closer with a bipartisan 208-137 Puzzle piece saying HB 706 equals fair voting districtsdivision vote on HB 706 in the House on Thursday, it's last stop in the legislature.

That's with a total of 345 votes cast, and a 60% to 40% margin, short of the 66% that would be needed to override a veto from the governor. It is still unclear whether the governor will sign or veto the bill.  Many representatives were absent from the vote.

In May, a bipartisan compromise was reached to assure passage in the Senate and make the bill more palatable to Republicans. Thursday's  division vote does not record who cast the ballot for the concurrence vote, but it had originally passed the house in a 218-123 bipartisan vote, 64% to 36%.

Take action
Write or Call the Governor

Open Democracy Action has been urging voters to write to Governor Sununu to encourage him to sign the bill. Continued letters and calls to the governor, and letters to the editor to local papers are needed to convince him that the New Hampshire voters want fair voting districts, and it's in the best interest for both parties and for the State. Please do it soon!

Mail: (We recommend a personal letter)

Office of the Governor, State House, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301

Phone:

(603) 271-2121; (603) 271-7680 (fax)

Email:

Email the Governor's opinion email


LEGISLATION WE'RE WATCHING THIS TERM

For updates and descriptions of the other important democracy legislation this session, click on the links below.

Click here arrowPublic funding

Redistricting and ending gerrymandering

Campaign reform

Money in politics

 

Questions? Want to Help?

Olivia Zink: [email protected]; (603) 661-8621 (cell)

Rick Bourdon: [email protected]; (603) 795-2818; (603) 759-1888 (cell)

Brian Beihl: [email protected] (603) 620-8300 (cell)


  • ← Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next →
  • Sign in with Facebook
  • Sign in with Twitter
  • Sign in with Email
Tweets by OpenDemoAction


Open Democracy Action, 4 Park Street, Suite 301, Concord, NH 03301


Sign in with Facebook, Twitter or email.
Created with NationBuilder